Chancellor hints at fuel help - The Sun

THE CHANCELLOR has dropped another huge hint that he WILL act to tackle soaring petrol prices.

George Osborne yesterday let slip that there WOULD be an announcement on tax levels at the pump in his Budget next month.

The comment came as pump prices soared to a new record - with unleaded averaging 128.71p per litre and diesel 133.65.

The Chancellor told MPs in the Commons: "I completely understand the pressure on motorists.

"We are looking at the last government's fuel duty increase and we are also considering the case for a fuel duty stabiliser. We will have announcements on this."

Realising he had almost given the game away, Mr Osborne swiftly added: "Potentially".

The comments come almost a month since the Sun launched our "Keep it Down" campaign - calling on the Chancellor to help motorists.

We want him to scrap a hike in fuel duty planned for April 1 - or honour a pre-election pledge and introduce a fuel stabiliser.

Fuel duty is set to go up by another 1p in April - but the increase at the pumps could be as much as 5p as inflation has to be taken into account. An incredible 130,000 people have backed our campaign by signing petitions online, in the paper or in filling stations around the country.

The AA last night urged the Chancellor to scrap the WHOLE rise - duty and the inflation escalator. AA president Edmund King said: "The Chancellor needs to do more than hint at a freeze."

Tory MP Andrew Bingham told the Chancellor that the rising cost of fuel was having a "significant effect" on rural communities.

The Sun last month revealed that 41 per cent of Brits have cut back on using their car to cope with spiralling pump prices. A quarter have cut spending elsewhere.

Advertisement